Jennifer Eileen Towne, Ph.D., serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer. In this role, Dr. Towne leads the research function from basic research through scale-up manufacturing and the introduction of drug candidates to clinical trials. Dr. Towne has more than two decades of in-depth immunology research and development experience, and a proven track record of successfully developing breakthrough medicines and advancing multiple investigational new drug applications for innovative therapeutics. Prior to joining Vir Biotechnology in November 2023, Dr. Towne spent nine years at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson in roles of increasing responsibility in research and development. In her most recent role as Senior Vice President, Immunology Discovery and External Innovation, she led the 140-person Immunology Discovery group External Innovation group, which has a presence in San Diego, the Philadelphia area, Boston and London. Dr. Towne was responsible for advancing disease understanding and development of innovative therapeutics across gastroenterology, immunodermatology, rheumatology and autoimmune diseases and for bringing the most promising early innovation into Janssen to support the Immunology portfolio. Before that, Dr. Towne held a variety of scientific roles during her 13 years at Amgen.